Argus456: Thanks, I thought it was the right choice.
X3runner: Interesting to hear.
SalazaSAUCE Neo: That's very good to hear. Glad I could inspire someone.
CMtiger97: I don't really do Pokémon.
Luffy L Deathwalker: Indeed.
Tonytaker: Glad to hear.
Hello There: And Merry Christmas from the UK
NotLeviathan: Yeah. I haven't seen Bleach, but it is on my watch list.
Dragon Bone Z: Mainly the list of Rangers that Tommy has been.
ZLT180: Thanks, but I don't have that many to work with so I think I'm okay. I'm aware, never played the game however, and just listened to two songs (Dr Finkelstein and the last one)
Pedrofaria339: Fair enough.
LordStarX101: Glad you're enjoying my story so far.
All of Halloween town was in the square ready for Jaune's night ride. The band was playing 'Here Come Santa Claus' as the Mayor conducted them. Everyone was waiting and excited. Because of this no one noticed Penny sneak her way next to the main fountain where Jaune appeared out of during their Halloween event. She uncorks the bottle and dumps the fog juice into the fountain.
"Oh, I see what my counterpart is doing" Penny said in realization.
"What's that Penny?" Ruby asked.
"I wish I could tell you, friend Ruby," Penny said. "But I think my patchwork counterpart will rather show you instead."
The effect started at once as fog started to roll out of the fountain. Knowing it would take a while for the juice to work its way through all the water and wells in the area she joined the crowd as if she did nothing wrong.
"Sneaky move." Winter hummed. "Very smart" Winter complimented.
"Indeed." Ironwood said in agreement.
"I wish we know what they're talking about" Yang grumbled in annoyance.
Then the coffin base sleigh open up and Jaune propped up like a board to the cheer of the crowd. They called out and applauded as the Mayor walked up to the step for a stage and pulled his speech out, which was close to two and a half feet long. He started "Think of us as you soar triumphantly through the sky, outshining every star, your silhouette a dark blot on the moon. You who are our pride, you who are our glory, you who have frighten billions to an early grave…"
"Oh boy, here he goes with his speeches" Qrow groaned.
"Leo is often long when he does these." Ozpin said.
"Perhaps maybe too long" Ironwood said.
"Does he always does this" Blake asked.
"Let's just say that he likes to inspire his students for way too long" Sun said, being on the receiving end of those speeches himself.
As he continued the fog started to roll out of the wells and the fountain's monster mouth and blanket the area. It got thicker and thicker till it was hard to see even in front of their faces. The crowd started to get alarmed at the sudden fog and the Mayor had trouble reading his speech. "You who have, eh…devastated the souls of the living…"
Jaune looked around shocked and worried, "Oh no! We can't take off in this. The reindeer can't see an inch in front of their noses."
Penny sighed in relief seeing as her plan worked, "Whew,"
"Ah, she's using fog!" Ruby said in realisation.
"Very smart Penny" Blake complimented.
"Indeed. Using the fog to make sure Jaune doesn't take off is a sure fire plan" Weiss said.
"Thank you" Penny smiled.
"This fog's as thick as—as…" one vampire started before the Cyclops finished for him, "Jellied Brains."
"Thicker!" the other vampire cried.
Jaune sat down in his sleigh disappointed at all of this, "There go all of my hopes, my precious plans, my glorious dreams."
"Oh Jaune..." Pyrrha said in a sympathetic tone.
"I do feel bad for them." Ruby said. "They worked so hard to do this."
"It had to be done" Weiss said. "I know this is what he wanted, but it's better off this way."
"Yeah, I don't think kids would've been excited to see those gifts" Sun said.
"Now Jaune has to get Santa away from that Oogie guy" Yang said.
"There goes Christmas," one of the children said as he started to cry.
The crowd was disappointed as well hating to see all their efforts go to waste. A light glowed as Zwei made his way through the crowd to cheer his master up. He barked at Jaune his nose shining brightly in the fog. "No Zwei, down boy." Jaune said as he was not in the mood to play with his friend. He then noticed the light shinnying in his face, coming from his best friend. "My! What a brilliant nose you have. The better to light my way!" Jaune cried seeing that Zwei could save the day for him. "To the head of the team, Zwei!"
"Oh dear" Ozpin said.
"Ah no, Zwei" Ruby cried out. "I want to be mad but I just can't!"
"Ruby, you can and you will" Blake frowned at her leader.
"Blake, it's not the pups fault" Kali said.
"It very easily is" Blake said.
The crowd cheered as Zwei flew to the front and fronted there. The crowd cheered seeing as Christmas as back on. Jaune smiled glad that Zwei was coming along as he hated to leave his friend out of the fun. "We're off!" Jaune shouted as he cracked his whip and the reindeer started off with Zwei lighting the front.
The crowd cheered as the sleigh started moving and they started to take off. Penny was shocked her plan had failed and tried to call for Jaune, "Wait Jaune! No!" but he could not hear her over the crowds' cheers.
The flew off the sloped ramp and into the air and they flew off into the sky and they could see his sleigh's silhouette on the moon. Jaune then cried out, "Ho! Ho! Ho! Ha! Ha! Ha!"
"Well...at least he got the laugh down right" Yang said.
"I don't think that's what important right now." Winter said to the blonde boxer.
Then they were out of sight. The crowd broke apart to wait until the fog was cleared and they would be able to watch Jaune in action. Penny stood there sadly, "Good-bye Jaune…my dearest Jaune." She started to walk off, "Oh, how I hope my premonition is wrong."
"Dearest?" Kali asked.
"It appears my counterpart is hoping for a romantic relationship with this version of Jaune Arc." Penny observed, causing the girls who liked Jaune to have their eye widen and were fuming.
"How very interesting." Ozpin said.
"Indeed." Penny said. "I have not even met or spoken to him." Penny said.
The band were playing one of their songs as Penny walked by before she spoke her feeling as sang into the night.
I sense there's something in the wind
That seems like tragedy's at hand
And though I'd like to stand by him
Can't shake this feeling that I have
She did a twirl as the band played before she stopped by an iron gate.
The worst is just around the bend
And does he notice my feelings for him?
And will he see how much he means to me?
I think it's not to be
"I feeling I know too well." Pyrrha sighed, feeling the same thing this version of Penny felt when it came to the blonde.
"Yeah..." Velvet said as well, her partner comforting her.
"Don't give up, Vel" Coco encouraged.
"You too Pyrrha" Nora said to her sister like figure.
Penny looked up at the top of the gate seeing a bat cat sitting there watching her.
What will become of my dear friend?
Where will his actions lead us then?
Although I'd like to join the crowd
In their enthusiastic cloud
Try as I may, it doesn't last
Penny went through the gate as the cat climbed down and walked around the doll's legs as Penny slowly twirled again.
And will we ever end up together?
no, I think not, it's never to become
For I am not the one
"Ah, such a tragic tale" Kali sighed.
"Indeed." Glynda said.
"How very interesting." Penny said. "I wish to know more about this."
"Soon" View said. "For now...continue to watch"
Penny sat down as the cat jumped into her lap as she finished her song. She looked sadly in the fog as she looked up hoping Jaune was fine and fearing that would be the last time she would see him.
"I just hope he doesn't get into too much trouble" Pyrrha said.
"I highly doubt that, Pyrrha" Blake said.
"Indeed." Ren said. "Most likely, Jaune will cause quite a scene with his version of Christmas"
"I for one can't wait to see them." Nora said.
Jaune laughed as he flew through the way. Occasionally cracking his whip to his reindeer. He then looked down and spotted his first town. He commanded his deer towards one house and they began their descent to land on the roof. However there were several decorated angles on the roof with some lights already there and not a lot of room. There was a loud crash and inside his room a young boy woke up with a start.
"Very subtle" Qrow jokes while drinking.
He did not see that outside his window was one of the angles, hanging with a string of lights around its neck like a noose. Meanwhile Jaune has gotten his bag and walked to the chimney. He simply jumped up and down it with ease only the bag slowing him down slightly.
"Ergh..." Sun cringed as he adjusted his shirt collar.
"Hopefully, no one else will notice" Tai said.
The excited boy got up from his bed muttering, "Santa". He raced down the stair and peeked inside the room. Seeing Jaune there with his bag open caused the boy to gasp. He tiptoed into the room as Jaune started to fill the stocking over the fireplace. Once he was close enough the boy asked, "Santa?"
"Kinda" Yang said.
"More or less" Ruby added.
"Not really" Weiss finished.
Jaune turned wondering who spoke to him before he looked down as saw the boy. He smiled and bent down to look at him, "Merry Christmas." He said in a slightly deeper voice to match more like Sandy Claws in his mind. The boy said nothing and just stared. "And what is your name?" Jaune asked tapping the younger boy's nose.
He stammer all nervous when Jaune smiled, "That's alright. I have a special present for you anyways." He then reached into the bag and pulled a box out with a green bow. "There you go Sonny."
The boy then looked from the present to Jaune who was now standing on his hands in the fireplace. He gave a "Ho! Ho! Ho! Hee! Hee Hee!" before he pushed himself up and out of sight.
"I'll give him this, he knows how to make an entrance and an exit." Tai complimented.
"I suppose so" Glynda said. "I hardly think that was what the child thought when he saw him" Glynda said.
"I imagine that boy has over a thousand thoughts on mind" Ironwood said.
"Indeed." Winter said.
The boy stared at the empty fireplace for a second before he took the ribbon and bow off and open the present. He looked inside as his parent came down, having also heard the noise. They saw their son with a present and smiled at him "And what did Santa bring you honey?" his mother asked.
He turned to them and held the shrunken head inside the box by the hair to his parents.
His parents screamed in fright and horror at the gift before them. Jaune heard the screams as he rode off and cried out, "Merry Christmas!"
"That is hilarious" Qrow grinned.
"That boy is going to be traumatized you drunken oaf!" Winter said angrily.
"Maybe the parents, but the kid looks okay with it" Qrow said.
"He does seem rather unbothered by it" Ozpin said.
"That's because he's a kid." Tai said. "Nothing really bothers them"
At the police station the phone rang. "Hello Police," the one officer answered. The woman on the other line was hysterical as she said the problem. "Attack by Christmas toys? That's strange, that's the second toy complaint we had tonight."
"Second?" Ruby asked in an uneased tone.
"Looks like Arc is going to have a long night" Coco said.
"I think everyone is" Velvet said.
In the night sky Jaune laughed as he spotted his next house. Inside the main well in the town square of Halloween town, the others watched as Jaune worked.
In one house an old lady was up by the fire knitting and rocking in a rocking chair. Jaune peeked inside before he opens the door and quickly left a wreath on the inside of the door before he left. The wreath growled as its eyes open before they went narrow and glowed seeing the old woman.
"Oh boy" Sun said.
"This isn't going to end well" Ilia said.
In one home by a fake tree with a mini spot light flashing light against it Jaune open his bag and let out a large orange and black snake. It slithered around the floor by the tree and before Jaune left.
"What kid would want a snake for Christmas!?" Weiss asked.
"Me?" Nora said.
"Besides you" Weis said.
In the next house Jaune left a coffin shape present and the cat like toy on a chair next to it. As Jaune left the two small children of the house went into the room. They spotted the present and quickly went to them. The girl picked the cat up and started to hug it while the brother open the box showing the duck the vampire's made. The brother poked the duck and then both toys came alive, scaring both children. The two children screamed as the toys flew up and started to chase them. They ran up the stairs with the toys on their heels as they ran into their parent's room calling out to them. They shut the door still screaming, waking their parents up as the toys hit the door wanting to come in.
"Man, I feel bad for those kids" Nora said.
"Yes." Ren said.
"I know at least if that ever happened to us, you and I would've taken them down in seconds" Yang said to her little sister, who nodded in response.
"Yeah!" Ruby said.
Jaune was jumping from rooftop to rooftop as he went to the chimney and dropped a present into the house. As he jumped to the next house he heard the screams inside the houses. Around the land peoples' screams filled the night. Two children screamed as bat flew from their tree around them. The old lady from before cried out as the wreath sent vines made of its body around her and scared her while growling at her. One child screamed as he found his tree was being eaten by a snake bigger than he was. All the while one fat child was running with a Jack-in-the-box with a pumpkin head hopping after him.
"Well...I can certainly say that people are going to remember this Christmas for a long while" Ozpin said.
"Not for the right reasons" Glynda said.
"I can only imagine what's going to happen next" Winter said.
People were now taking precautions. They blocked their fireplaces with sofa's and TV's. Doors and windows were locked tight and grates over fire places were closed and blocked with pokers. Some turned up the gas of their fireplaces making the flames too hot for anything to go through.
"Woah, they are really taking measures to make sure Jaune doesn't come inside their houses" Yang said.
"Indeed." Weiss said.
"I just hope it doesn't go too far." Ruby said.
"I don't think that'll be the case, Ruby" Saphron said, worried for her brother.
Jaune had no idea this was happening as he cried out over the rooftops, "Your welcome, one and all!" which cause light to get turned off out of fear.
At the police station phone were ringing off the hooks. "Alright where'd you spot him?" one police man asked while another was saying, "Yes we are doing everything we can." More and more the answers and calls were the same, "Yes I know a skeleton. Turn off all the light and lock all the doors."
Over the radio a news report went out, "Reports are coming in from all over the globe. That an imposter is shamelessly impersonating Santa Claus. Mocking and mangling this joyous holiday."
"He's not mocking it!" Nora cried out in defence of her leader. "He's just trying to bring in joy to people!" Nora said. "Not his fault that everyone was too sissy"
"Nora..." Ren tried to argue but decided not to and just agree with his partner.
Even Halloween town was hearing this and cheering. Only Penny hear the newscaster say, "Police assure us that at this moment military units are mobilized to stop perpetrator of this heinous crime."
"Wait, what?!" Terra exclaimed.
"That seems a bit too much, doesn't it?" Saphron asked.
"If they see him as a threat, they have the right to take him down" Ironwood said.
Penny gasp, "Jaune, someone has to help him." She then cried out to everyone, "Where'd they take that Sandy Claws?"
But no one could answer her as they cheered before she moved through the crowd to find Santa.
At military bases Air raids sirens roared as the men got moving. Spot light flashed to life and started to search the skies. Jaune found the light shinny near him, "Look Zwei, searchlights."
"Oh no..." Ren said.
"Well this isn't gonna end well" Ilia said.
The men before started to arm their anti-air defence turrets and then fried. The rounds exploded around Jaune missing him. He cheer not really knowing what they were, "They're celebrating! They're thanking use for doing such a good job."
"Definitely not is what happening right now!" Weiss exclaimed.
"Get out of there, Jaune!" Ruby cried out.
"Blast them out before they blast you out!" Nora cried out.
"It doesn't have any weapons, Nora" Blake said.
"Well, Jaune might need them." Yang said with a little worry in her voice.
One round nearly hit Zwei and another nearly hit Jaune, "Whoa!" he cried out before he shouted down, "Careful down there. You almost hit us."
Zwei barked at him, while Jaune reassures him, "its okay Zwei. Head higher!"
Zwei led the way as the sleigh until they went above the clouds and out of sight.
"Hopefully, he'll stay up there and avoid any fire" Kali said.
"I don't think he'll be up there for long, Kali" Ghira said.
Back in Oogie Boogie's lair the boogie man was ready to play his game with Santa. "Are you a gablin' man Sandy?" he asked wickedly as he picked up his dice. "Let's play."
"He better not hurt him" Ruby said.
But before he could do anything he heard the sound of his door opening. He looked towards it and found his door was slightly open and a leg was sticking into his lair, a female leg. Oogie Boogie grinned, "My…my…what have we here?" he asked aloud as he bumped Santa lightly with his elbow twice.
"Like that ransack bag has any game" Qrow scoffed in response.
Oogie Boogie slicked the top of his head to present himself and made his way over to his door, turning his back to Santa. While this was happening two hand came out of a grate and slid down the rope that held Santa. They landed on his beard catching hi attention. One quickly covered his mouth to keep him quiet and the other pointed upward. Santa looked up and saw Penny peeking out of the great with her hands removed. "I'll get you out of here," she whispered down to him.
"Good on you, Penny" Ironwood complimented.
"Effective." Winter nodded. "Using your limb to distract Oogie"
"Indeed." Penny smiled.
Oogie Boogie chuckled as he knelt by the leg and the woman he thought was behind it. "Lovely" he mutters as he took the shoe off and started to tickle the foot.
"Ergh" Weiss shivered in response.
"Gross" Ruby said.
Penny was working hard and her hands were able to untie Santa's binds. With him fee Penny lowered a rope ladder she found so they can escape. All was going well until Oogie Boogie pulled the leg slightly and reviled that nothing was attached to it. "What?!" he shouted angrily. He turned and found the pair trying to escape. He got really mad then. "You trying to make a dupe out of me?!"
"Not really that hard apparently" Yang joked.
"Not the time, Yang" Blake said to her partner as her eyes were glued to the screen.
Santa and Penny gasped at being spotted. Oogie Boogie then gave a roar as he started to suck the air around them and towards him. The wind picked up and forced Santa back while still holding the ladder. Penny tried her hardest to hold but then she lost traction as she, the ladder and Santa got caught in the wind and towards Oogie Boogie.
"What is he going to do with them!?" Saphron asked.
"Nothing good." Winter said with a glare towards the screen.
"Oh no..." Ruby said with worry for her robotic friend.
In the night sky Jaune was flying while he looked over a list he had picked from 'Sandy Claws' when he saw him. "Now who's next on my list? Ah, little Harry and Jordan. Won't they be surprised?"
"That would be an understatement, Mr Arc" Ozpin said as he drank his coffee.
Jaune flew through the clouds and silhouette himself on the moon. The spot lights of a different base were back and shone upon him. The turret fired at them. One knocked the head of a skeleton reindeer causing Jaune to try and control the sleigh when another hit the container in the back. Jaune got control again and caught a doll that flew out but its hair was on fire. Then he realized something. "They're trying to hit us!" Zwei!"
"Now he realises it!" Weiss exclaimed
"Not the time to be right, Weiss" Blake said.
"Get out of there, Jaune-Jaune!" Nora cried out to the screen, not wanting to see him get blasted into nothing.
"Please..." Saphron said, deeply worried for her little brother.
Zwei turned worried for his master as he barks and whines. One turret was able to lock onto Jaune's sleigh. It fired with a loud band as the projectile flew up and hit Jaune's sleigh. The blast broke the sleigh and the reindeer apart. Burned slightly Jaune called out, "Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!"
"NO!" Saphron cried out as Terra comforted her and her son had tears in his eyes.
"Jaune!" Pyrrha cried out in shock and terror for her leader, partner and love as he fell to the ground below.
His friends and family were also worried for the young Arc as well as they hoped for his safety.
The group fell and landed on the ground below.
In Halloween town, the crowd watched as Jaune was shoot out of the sky. They gasp before they relies what truly happen. The werewolf let out a howl that ended in a cry to morn Jaune as the other gained tears in their eyes. The Mayor started to walk away taking the wreath off of his hat, "I knew this Christmas thing was a bad idea," he moaned lightly as he got into his car, "I felt it in my gut."
"I wish he would have felt it before Jaune was blasted off" Sun said as he was bummed out to see his fellow blonde taken down.
He started his car and drove off as he said over the megaphone, "Terrible news folks. The worst tragedy of our times. Jaune has been blown to smithereens."
The town turned as they watched the mayor go off as he cried, "Terrible, terrible news!"
"Jaune..." Pyrrha said, tears in her eyes, not wanting to believe it.
"I can't believe it..." Blake said.
"I still don't." Ruby said definitely.
In the real world several police car were driving around to report to the citizens about the events. "Attention, attention citizens, terrible news. There's still no sigh of Santa Claus. Although the imposter has been shot down, it looks like Christmas will have to be cancelled this year."
As the car drove by people were peeking out of their homes and most of the children were hugging their parents and crying aver the sad news. In a graveyard not far from the police car the wreckage of Jaune's sleigh was scattered about. The main coffin was burnt and on fire, several toys were broken and scattered around the snowy ground. And the largest statue of an angle with open arms holding a book…laid Jaune. He looked hurt as his Sandy Claws outfit Penny worked so hard to make was ripped and burnt and Jaune was missing his lower jaw bone.
"Jaune" Saphron cried out in relief at seeing his brother.
"Is he?" Weiss asked, hoping he was indeed okay."
"He's alive" View confirmed, making the audience sigh of relief.
"Oh thank god" Yang breathed.
Zwei floated to his master with the jaw bone in his mouth and placed it where it should be.
Jaune reached up and fixed the bone into place. He open his eyes, slowly sat up and looked around. He took in the scene of his dream scattered all around him. Everything his friends in Halloween town and what he made were all gone, like dust in the wind. And all he could think about as he looked around was, Why? Why did this happen? All he did was try and bring everyone something great. Then why did this happen? Jaune tried to understand what went wrong when the only thing he could come up with was himself. Sadly he sang out the sadness and regret he was feeling in his heart.
What have I done?
What have I done?
How could I be so blind?
All is lost, where was I?
Spoiled all, spoiled all
Everything's gone all wrong
Jaune looked around at all the scattered and burning toys. He leaned back against the angle statue as he sang.
"Jaune." Ruby said in a sad tone.
"He didn't mean for any of this" Nora said, a few tears in her eyes. "He just wanted to bring joy like...like Santa did."
"He meant well, Nora" Ren said softly to his childhood friend. "I know they didn't understand it, but we do"
What have I done?
What have I done?
Find a deep cave to hide in
In a million years they'll find me
Only dust and a plaque
That reads, "Here Lies Poor Old Jaune"
As Jaune snag this last line he transformed back into Jaune as lay across the statue once again. Zwei whined looking up at his master.
"This wasn't his fault" Saphron said sadly.
"I know, Sap" Terra said in support.
"If only he could just get out of this funk" Yang said.
Jaune then open his eyes as he let more of his emotions out.
But I never intended all this madness, never
And nobody really understood, well how could they?
"Yeah!" Ruby said in agreement with her fellow leader, feeling pepped up. "He just wanted to bring cheer and joy in his own way!"
"Indeed!" Penny said in agreement. "He should not feel bad for himself for simply trying to make everyone else feel good. He should be proud!"
Jaune sat up and sang out to the sky,
That all I ever wanted was to bring them something great!
Why does nothing ever turn out like it should?
"Kinda a thing for you, Arc" Coco said. "But don't let stop you from singing!"
Here Jaune moved so he sat on the front of the statue and placed his closed hand under his chin as he thought about it. As he thought about it he started to understand.
Jaune stood up on the statue as he sang,
Well, what the heck, I went and did my best
And, by God, I really tasted something swell
And for a moment, why, I even touched the sky
"Hell yeah you did, Jaune!" Yang cheered on for her fellow blonde.
"He did what most people dreamed of!" Nora said.
"That he did, Miss Valkyrie" Glynda said. "He should feel no shame in his actions...maybe for one"
Here Jaune reached towards the sky before he jumped up and as he landed transformed back into Jaune
And at least I left some stories they can tell, I did
"And boy, will they remember" Qrow said.
"You're telling me" Tai said.
And for the first time since I don't remember when
I felt just like my old bony self again
Jaune stepped forward as he hugged himself remembering the feeling and how good it felt. How much it made him feel alive.
And I, Jaune, the Pumpkin King
Jaune transformed into Jaune once again at this line before he stopped and came to a realization. One he felt was so simple he wondered how he missed it.
That's right, I am the Pumpkin King, ha, ha, ha!
Jaune went and ripped the burnt, ripped and ruined Santa outfit to reveal his normal clothes underneath.
"You're god damn right you are!" Yang cheered on in pure excitement.
"It's who he always was." Weiss smiled.
"He just needed something different to see it" Blake said.
And I just can't wait until next Halloween
'Cause I've got some new ideas
that will really make them scream
And, by God I'm really gonna give it all my might!
Jaune was walking around the site as he called out his new vow before he remembered. He needed to make this right. And to do that he needed to find to fix this.
Uh oh, I hope there's still time to set things right
Sandy Claws
Zwei floated there with Santa's hat, which was still in perfect condition, before Jaune walked over and took it from the ghost dog. Jaune knew what he needed to do; find Sandy Claws. He walked over to the grave he had landed on and summoned his power before he open the grave. He opened a door straight to Halloween Town. He knew to find Sandy Claws he need to find Mercury, Cinder and Roman. He hope nothing bad had happen to Sandy as he closed the door behind with Zwei right on his tail.
"Oh yeah!" Ruby pumped her fist up. "Get ready, Oogie! Cause your about to get your butt kicked by Jaune."
"The King of Halloween!" Nora said with excitement.
Thanks for reading this chapter of Worlds of Arc.
Get ready, because very soon, the final chapter of Nightmare Before Christmas will be released where Jaune fights Oogie Boogie, understand what Christmas is and...Maybe sing with a certain ragdoll. Thanks and see you around!